Chapter 2

Just as I was turning away, Anna spotted me from the corner of her eye.

“Sophina, come and try the breakfast August made!”

Anna invited me with a smile, her tone dripping with pomposity.

“Oh, you have no idea, Sophina. The food August made was inedible before! We are talking about cracked eggshells in my omelet, but practice makes perfect.”

“That’s nice,” I responded indifferently.

August emerged from the kitchen with two plates of food.

He carefully set one plate down in front of Anna. It was a lovely sandwich with a perfected fried egg.

As for the second plate, he simply left it haphazardly at the edge of the table.

The edges of the egg were charred, a careless afterthought.

Next, August poured a glass of milk and slid the drink toward me.

I stared intently at the glass.

Scenes from the past kept replaying in my head.

During my first attempt behind the stove, I ingested some dairy by accident.

Things were so bad that I had to be rushed to the infirmary for a stomach flush.

At the time, August, occupied with putting the restless Anna to bed, paid no heed to the doctor’s orders.

Despite the repeated reminders of my dairy intolerance, August never took me seriously.

Though I no longer held any hope, my heart still throbbed with pain.

Noticing my pale complexion, Anna inched closer worriedly.

“Are you upset, Sophina? I’m sorry. The power went out at my apartment last night, and I couldn’t stand being alone. August had to come back and stay with me out of concern for my well-being. He didn’t mean to forget your medicine.

“Don’t be mad at him. It’s all my fault.”

It wasn’t the first time Anna had shoved August’s devotion right in my face.

Before, jealousy and rage would have consumed me.

All I felt now was exhaustion.

“I’m not upset.” My voice was flat.

Anna looked up, her eyes welling up. “You are, Sophina. Why else are you refusing to drink the milk I brought you?”

August’s presence grew icy. “Drink it!”

Weary, I explained once more, “I’m not mad at all. I’m just allergic to milk.”

“That’s enough, Sophina!” August slammed the table in fury. “I’ve never heard of this before. Anna went through all the trouble of going to three different stores to find the right milk for you. Why must you be so mean?”

He clutched my chin, forcing the milk down my throat.

The cold liquid went up my nose. I choked hard as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I sank to the floor, hives breaking out across my skin.

August stepped over me with a straight face. Holding the inconsolable and unconscious Anna in his arms, he made a beeline out.

In the end, the butler felt bad enough to take me to the infirmary.

The anesthesia and stomach pump nearly took me out.

I came to and found August waiting by my bed.

For once, he sat there in silence with faint shadows under his eyes.

When I regained consciousness, his eyes sparkled for a moment, only to be washed over by guilt.

“I must apologize, Sophina.” He held my hand, his voice raspy. “I didn’t know you had a milk intolerance. I thought you were just lying to get at Anna again.”

I simply met his gaze without a word.

His mind flew back to the car crash a year ago.

Back then, I was trapped in the wrecked car. Covered in blood, I mustered the last of my strength to mind-link August for help.

As pain devoured my consciousness, August’s emotionless voice cut through.

“Enough with the lies, Sophina. It’s Anna’s birthday today. I need to pick out a gift for her. Leave me alone.”

I laughed bitterly to myself.

The way August saw it, every bit of my pain and suffering was just stories, meant to make Anna look bad.

It was just so pathetic.

With the little energy in me, I withdrew my arm and looked away.

Unlike before, August didn’t throw a fit.

Beaming, he turned and reached for a gift box to show me.

“Sophina, I picked these earrings for you. They are perfect for you. I hope you can wear them for our mating ceremony.”

“Thank you.”

My aloof and distant voice triggered unrest within August.